Does anyone have any stories of close calls or scary situations in the cockpit?

I was a new MEI practicing engine shutdowns and airstarts with a student in a typical multi-engine trainer and the left engine refused to restart. No big deal, I had landed countless times before with simulated engine failure. My student had done very well with his single engine landings up to that point, so I thought it would be good practice for him to do the approach and landing. He crossed the threshold a little too fast even though I kept telling him to slow down. Then he flared too abruptly and the plane balooned a little. He reacted by adding too much power on the operative engine. If you remember your Vmc factors, you can imagine how the plane reacted. It quickly began to sharply pitch up and roll toward the dead engine. I usually don't grab the controls, but I didn't want to be upside down on the grass!

The worst was an early morning flight I was operating from OMA-CVG, when on climb out and I was done hand flying, the A/P was quickly put on. The flight seemed normal all the way up to 10,000 feet, when flex thrust was switched to normal climb.

I reached into my flight bag and to my complete dismay, I could not find my copy of the USA Today. Frantically, I searched my side of the flight deck to no avail. Being a good, modern airline pilot, utilizing CRM, I included the captain in the search. Then, just as it seemed that all hope had expired, I caught a glimpse of the sports section smiling at me from below, in between the QRH and PPAS book. Memory items complete, I EMER deployed my USA Today and all was well in the world again.

Sigh, when I can hear Diver Driver laughing from across the table, I know he is on these forums and I know he is up to no good. Of course he could regal you in his tales of a nuisance Hydraulic 3 low press, or deadsticking a Cessna 206.

Had a captain with really bad gas once. Needed the O2 twice.

Also had a long enough sit in O'hare once, walked all the way over to the gyro place only to find out they didn't have any gyro meat.

I think we have a winner! ORD is just not worth it without a good gyro or burning dog served by someone yelling in Greek.

lol... ya, the HYD 3 LOW PRESS was like a week after my recurrent LOE checkride where they threw a HYD 2/3 LOW PRESS at us. It was nice to see that msg go away. Now, the 206.... well... ya. That just sucked. At least I was over the airport, kicked out the skydivers, landed and didnt have to ditch it in a field.

I worked in a greek restaurant in highschool and have a soft spot for them. Their gyros might be the best I've ever had. I've actually ran from C to F to grab one on a 40 minute for the captain and I. You can only imagine the way that cockpit smelled after that leg

Yeah, we are lucky enough errr used to be lucky enough, to have it right by our gate.

a comair gate agent came to the cockpit and said she had to pull me out of the jumpseat so they could add more fuel...i was trying to commute home...didn't make it that day...

there is nothing worse than six days of reserve then getting stuck...